Light Guiding Device

Abstract

A light guiding device for an illumination device, especially for a motor vehicle or an indicator device in a rearview device of a motor vehicle includes a light coupling side for incoupling light from a light source, a reflection side having a reflection layer; and a light outcoupling side, which is disposed generally opposite the reflection side. A clearance between the reflection side and the light outcoupling side generally decreases as the distance from the light incoupling side increases. The reflection side having the reflection layer is configured so that light arriving from the light incoupling side is deflected to the light outcoupling side. The reflection layer may be a paint or lacquer layer that is imprinted or evaporation-coated on the reflection side.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of European Patent Application No. EP 15151604.4, filed Jan. 19, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to a light guiding device for an illumination device, such as a backlight or interior or exterior lighting, wherein incident light is deflected by reflection. The light guiding device can particularly be used in an indicator of a motor vehicle, in connection with a blind spot monitor in an outside mirror for example. The invention also relates to a like illumination device, an outside mirror having such a light guiding device and a method for producing such a light guiding device.[0003]In known light guiding devices, it has proven disadvantageous that the light deflected by the light guiding device is outcoupled relatively inhomogeneously over a surface to be illuminated. This effect becomes ever more obv...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The light guiding device has a light incoupling side for coupling light from a light source into the light guiding device, a reflection side having a reflection layer for reflecting the incoupled light and a light outcoupling side. The light outcoupling side is preferably disposed essentially opposite the reflection side. The clearance between the reflection side and the light outcoupling side preferably basically decreases as the distance from the light incoupling side increases. This decrease of the clearance can occur at least partially non-linear. In other words, the reflection side and / or the reflection layer can not only extend linearly inclined relative to the light outcoupling side, but can also extend arc-shaped or convex. The reflection side having the reflection layer is embodied so that the light arriving at the light outcoupling side from the light incoupling side is deflected in order to thus produce a light distribution on the light outcoupling side that is more uniform or is as uniform as possible.

Problems solved by technology

In known light guiding devices, it has proven disadvantageous that the light deflected by the light guiding device is outcoupled relatively inhomogeneously over a surface to be illuminated.

As the line width of the pictogram increases, 1.0 mm for example, the inhomogeneity becomes quite visible and the user finds it disturbing.

In the extreme case, a very non-uniform illumination of a pictogram can cause the user to misinterpret an indicator light as not illuminated.

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